Automatic counterbalance for cotton-press side doors



p 1929- J. J. WALLACE 1,728,089

AUTOMATIC COUNTERBALANCE FOR COTTON PRESS SIDE DOORS Filed April 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 k h w Jeffr y LII/1611555 abtoznur.

p 1929- J. J. WALLACE AUTOMATIC COUNTERBALANCE; FOR COTTON PRESS SIDE DOORS Filed April 1Q, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwumtoz l/EfifFLly Ll millfice Patented Sept. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES JEFFREY JOHN WALLACE, OF AMITE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GULLETT GI N PANY, A CORPORATION OF LOUISIANA.

PATENT OFFICE.

COM-

AUTOMATIC COUNTERIBALAHCE FOR COTTON-PRESS SIDE DOORS.

Application filed April 10, 1928. Serial No. 268,879.

This invention relates to improvements in means for counterbalancing doors, particularly the type of doors common to cotton presses. One of the prime objects of this invention is to provide improvements over the structure disclosed in the inventors copending application, Serial No. 218,238,filed September 8, 1927, issued May 1, 1928, Patent No. 1,668,437.

An object of this invention is to provide a counterbalance whereby the operating leverage is arranged in such a manner that light weights may be used to balance the door of a press or other similar member, making use of one weight for two doors.

One of the prime objects of this invention is to provide a counterbalance device wherein the action of the weight is applied approximately near the center of the door, and wherein the main portion of the stress, due to the weight of the counterbalance, is carried by a support entirely independent of the door, such as a platform, or otherwise.

A. further object of this invention is to provide a counterbalance which will function to cooperate with a plurality of doors in the operation of a press, the counterbalance being so arranged as to be independent of the doors, but at the same time be in position for instant service.

Another object of this invention is to provide a counter weight device wherein a single weight will function to balance a plurality of doors on the same side of the press.

A further object of this invention isto provide a counter weight arrangement particularly adapted for service in connection with double box presses for the ginning of cotton, wherein a single weight is arranged to govern the balancing of both doors on one side of the press, the door of one of the boxes being opened and closed before the press is revolved, and the other door is opened and closed in counterbalanced manner by the same weight. The two doors on the other side of the press would normally be operated by means of a second counter weight arranged in the same manner on that side of the press.

Other objects of thisinvention will appear from the following detailed description of the device and as disclosed in the two sheets of drawings which is herewith made a part of this application. j I

In the drawingsi i a Fig. 1 illustrates a front elevational View of a typical double box press for the ginning of cotton, disclosing an arrangement of counterbalance weights on each side of the press for operating in connection with the doors, one weight for the two doors on" each side ofthe press. I

Fig. 2 represents an end view of Figure 1, disclosing a, door on one of the boxes in lowered position. i

Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a' single counter weight in assembled relationship with the shaft and clutch members for cooperating with the two doors on the same side of the press. i

Fig. 4 representsa side view of one of the clutch devices to an enlarged scale, disclosing the different members in assembled and interlocked relationship on the weight supporting shaft.

F 5 illustrates a side elevational viewof the other clutch device, disclosing the various members in interlocked relationship on the Weight supporting shaft.

Fig. 6 represents a sectional view of Fig-. ure 4, taken along line 66. p i

Fig, 7 illustrates a sectional view ofFigure 5 taken along 77.

The doors of a revolving double box press for the ginning of cotton are heavy and it has been found desirable to provide an efii- I cient counterbalancing means for overcoming the objection of lifting the heavy side doors and being obliged to attach and detach a weight whenever the doors are operated.

The counter-balancing device, herewith described and claimed, may be used in connec: tion with any suitable structure, but it .is preferred in this invention 7 to provide a counter weight device particularly adapted for service in connection with revolving double box presses, as clearly disclosed in Figure 1, having a pair of press boxes 1 and positioned platforms 9 and 10, for allowing convenient and easy accessibility to the side doors 11, 12, 13, andl-, which are pivotally mounted in some suitably formed member, such as the channel irons 15, securely fas tened to the side'ends of the box press.

In order to allow the use of a comparatively light weight for the purpose of counterbalancing a door of the press and,

using the one weight for two doors, it is preferred in this invention to provide a plurality of bearings 16, securely fastened to the press-circle floor 10 for the purpose of supporting ashaft member 17, adapted to have securely attached thereto a fulcrum arm member 18, and clutch collar portions 19 and 20, which may be keyed to the shaft or fastened thereto in any other suitable manner.

Leverage arms 21 for door 11 and 22 for door 14 are loosely mounted on the shaft 17, adjacent the clutch collars 19 and 20. The

entire weight of the mechanism is carried throughthe bearings 16 to the press circle floor 10. Lug portions 23 and 24 extend integrallyaround approximately one third the circumference of the collar-portions 19 and 20, and function to engage similar clutch or lug extensions 25 and 26, integrally formed from the hub portions 27 and 28 of the levers 21 and 22, which are connected to the doors 11 and 1 1 of the press by means of link portions 29 and 30 to door 1 1, 31 and 32 to door 11, the link members 30 and 32 being pivotally connected to the doors l1 and 14 by means of suitable journal members 33 and 34.

In order to provide adjustability for the link portions, grooves 35 and 36 are formed in the lever members 21 and 22, for the purpose of adjustably'receiving the inner ends of the link members 29 and 31, as clearly disclosed in Figure 2.

When one of the press doors, for instance 11, is moved into theposition as disclosed, it transmits motion through the links 31 and 32 to the lever arm 21 to the clutch collar 20, causing the shaft 17 to rotate, and as the fulcrum arm 18 is securely fastened to the shaft 17, motion will be imparted to it, causing rotation, thereby lifting the counter weight 37 ,which is connected to the free end 38 of the fulcrum 18 by means of a plurality of link members 39 and 40, one end of the link member 410 being pivotally connected to the Weight 37 the other end of the link member 10 being pivotally connected to the free end of the arm member 39, the other end of the arm member 39 being securely and rigidly attached to the free end of the fulcrum 18, as clearly disclosed at 38. Obviously, as the press door is opened, the arm member 39 will rotate with the shaft 17, while the link member 40 will remain in a vertical position, as clearly disclosed in Figure 2. i

This arrangement-of leverages allows the use of a very light weight counterbalance, for, as the leverage caused by the weight of the press door is increased, there will be a proportionately increased leverage on the fulcrum arm 18, which will function to equalize with the increasingweight and leverage of the press door, thus efliciently counterbalancing the door.

Naturally, the oppositeside of the press, as clearly disclosed in Figure 2, is provided with a similar mechanism to that described above, having a counter weight 41 operative- .ly connected wlth a shaft member 12, adapted to have mounted thereon the mechanism for cooperating with the opening and closing of thedoors on this side of the press, in precisely the same manner described in the operation of the device for the opposite side of the press.

It will be apparent from the above description that this invention relates to an arrange ment for counterbalancing the doors of the baling section or boxes of a cotton baling press of the ordinary type, however, it is not intended to limit the use of this device to any particular structure. The prime advantages of the counter weight system herewith described and claimed lies in the means for counterbalancing the four side doors of the baling section of a cotton press, using only two weights, thus eliminating the metal and annoyance resulting when each door is balanced separately.

An improved feature of this arrangement is that the device may be attached to any standard make of press without change, the counterbalance arrangement being a separate and distinct unit doesnot have to be built into the original press.

Another highly important feature is the method of attaching and applying the balancing effect to the door by means of a large bearing plate near the center thereof, which functions to prevent any warping or twisting of the door.

A further advantageous feature is the method of supporting theoperating mechanism and the weight of the counterbalances, which are carried in this invention on suitable lt-earings supported by the circle floor of the press thus preventing any weight or strain being transmitted to the locking boxesv of the press. I p

In particular, this invention provides a counterbalancing device arranged in such a manner that when one press door is lowered the shaft to which the clutch collars are keyed as well as the fulcrum arm, will turn and lift the weight, but will not affect the other door since the lever arms are loosely mounted on the shaft and the shaft turns in the hub of the arm without causing it to re volve, and, as the lugs on the clutch collars extend only approximately one-third of the circumference of the hub, the clutch will not engage the lever arm, and the second door will not be disturbed. The reverse would be true if the second door was lowered instead of the first named door.

It is to be understood that alterations and substitutions may be made in the above disclosure both in the specifications and draw ings within the scope of the appended claims Without in any manner affecting the merits of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a press comprising a plurality of boxes, doors attached to each box, a single counterbalance weight for apair of doors on adjacent boxes.

2. In a press comprising a plurality of boxes, doors attached to each box, a single counterbalance weight for a pair of doors on adjacent boxes, lever and fulcrum means for operating the weight,consisting of a shaft member and fulcrum arm securely fastened to the shaft, the Weight being pivotally connected through a plurality of link elements to the fulcrum arm.

8. In a press comprising a plurality of boxes, doors attached to each box, a single counterbalance weight for a pair of doors on adjacent boxes, lever and fulcrum means for operating the Weight, consisting of a shaft member and fulcrum arm securely fastened to the shaft, the weight being pivotally connected through a plurality of link elements to the fulcrum arm, collar members securely fastened to the shaft, lug portions extending from the collar members.

4:. In a press comprising a plurality of boxes, doors attached to each box, a single counterbalance weight for a pair of doors on adjacent boxes, lever and fulcrum means for operating the weight, consisting of a shaft member and fulcrum arm securely fastened to the shaft, the weight being pivotally connected through a plurality of link elements to the fulcrum arm, collar members securely fastened to the shaft, lug portions extending from the collar members, lever arms rotatively mounted on the shaft, lug portions extending therefrom for cooperating with the lug portions on the collar members.

5. In a press comprising a plurality of boxes, doors attached to each box, a single counterbalance weight for a pair of doors on adjacent boxes, lever and fulcrum means for operating the Weight, consisting of a shaft member and fulcrum arm securely fastened to the shaft, the weight being pivotally connected through a plurality of link counterbalance weight for a pair of doors,

on adjacent boxes, lever and fulcrum means for operating the weight, consisting of a shaft member and fulcrum arm securely fastened to the shaft, the weight being pivotally connected through a plurality of link elements to the fulcrum arm, collar members securely fastened to the shaft, lug portions extending from the collar members, lever arms rotatively mounted on the shaft, lug portions extending therefrom for cooperating with the lug portions on the collar members, a plurality of link members connecting the lever arms with the doors, means for adjustably positioning the links in the lever arms.

7. In a press box door compensator, the combination with the doors of the press box, of a rotatable body jointly connected with, the doors of adjacent press boxes for rotation by said doors, means effecting connection between the body and said doors, whereby either door may rotate the body independently of the other door, and means attached to the body and resisting the rotation thereof.

8. In a press comprising a plurality of boxes, doors pivotally attached to each box, a single counterbalance for a pair of doors on adjacent boxes.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JEFFREY JOHN IVALLACE. 

